In Japan, Finance Minister Naoto Kan has emerged as the front-runner to become the country's next prime minister, following the resignation of Yukio Hatoyama. Support appeared to be coalescing around him after two other possible candidates backed him for the leadership. <br/><br/>Mr. Hatoyama stepped down on Wednesday, amid a row over a US military base. Naoto Kan, 63, who is also deputy prime minister, has declared his intention to stand for the party leadership in a vote on Friday. <br/><br/>So far only he and a little-known lawmaker, Shinji Tarudoko, have declared an intention to stand. <br/><br/>Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada and Transport Minister Seiji Maehara had been tipped as possible rivals, but both said they would back him. Kan was widely expected to succeed Yukio Hatoyama on Friday, first as president of the ruling centre-left Democratic Party of Japan and then, after a parliamentary vote, as Prime Minister. <br/><br/>Tokyo stocks rose more than three per cent today, driven in part by news Kan was likely to take over as premier, brokers said.